JAMIE Lyon was walking through the car park at Manly HQ yesterday when a hack called out to ask if he was back.
To which Lyon simply smiled. Mumbled something about you'll have to wait and see. Then strolled off towards the indoor pool alongside boom rookie Kieran Foran.
But c'mon Jamie, our man called after him. Surely, you know what you're doing? "Yeah," Killer said turning and grinning, "I know."
Welcome to life in the most unpredictable finals series in NRL history.
A world where Sea Eagles superstars won't confirm their place in the team. Where 20 minutes later two teammates will. And then Manly release their official team sheet with Lyon nowhere to be seen.
It's a ducks and drakes attitude that confirms the importance of Friday night's encounter with Melbourne. One where Sea Eagles enforcer Anthony Watmough says the loser is gone for 2009."Yeah, we've gotta win, simple as that," he said yesterday. "And if we don't win then we can say goodbye to our season.
"Because in past years you could think you were safe finishing fifth and fourth. Now you can't. You've got to ensure your own success because things won't just fall your way.
"Look at the teams that finished eight, seven, six ... they've dished some really good teams up all year. So we don't want to be relying on other teams and hoping things fall our way. We want to keep destiny in our own hands which means going out there and winning at all costs."
And does that involve Jamie Lyon?
"Oh, Killer had a scratched shoulder and needed a couple of weeks off," Watmough continued with a laugh. "He's a pussycat. But Dessie has looked after him ... gave him his rest."
Despite Foran being named in the No. 6 jersey and Ben Farrar in the centres, coach Hasler is expected to find room for Lyon, who certainly looked unhampered by any problems yesterday.
Well, at least as he walked off towards the pool.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/jamie-lyon-non-comittal-over-whether-he-will-play-for-manly-against-melbourne/story-e6frexnr-1225770761587